Quincy to hold meeting to discuss downtown park project

Wednesday

Apr 9, 2014 at 3:32 PMApr 9, 2014 at 3:41 PM

The city will host a public meeting on Thursday, April 17 to inform residents and business owners about the Quincy Center park project, the first phase of which is set to start in the coming weeks. The meeting will start at 7 p.m. on the second floor of city hall, which is located at 1305 Hancock St.

The city will host a public meeting on Thursday, April 17 to inform residents and business owners about the Quincy Center park project, the first phase of which is set to start in the coming weeks.

The meeting will start at 7 p.m. on the second floor of city hall, which is located at 1305 Hancock St.

A.R. Belli, a Newton-based contractor, is ready to begin a $7.9 million construction project that will install new sidewalks, traffic signals and utilities in the area around city hall and the Church of Presidents. The road improvements are the first phase of a two-phased project, with the second phase being construction of the proposed Adams Green park expected to create green space between city hall and the church.

The timeline of the second phase is unknown because the city is still awaiting $30 million in state funding to build the park. The first phase is being funded by the state’s Department of Transportation with federal money.

The road improvements, expected to last two years, will create various disruptions for commuters, pedestrians and local businesses. At next week’s public meeting, city planners and state transportation officials will explain how construction will impact the area in the coming weeks and months.

Christopher Walker, a spokesman for Mayor Thomas Koch, said A.R. Belli won’t shut down Hancock Street until next spring at the earliest. However, he said there will be smaller disruptions, such as individual lane closures and closed sidewalks, before then.

The public can get project updates by signing up for “CityLink” at www.quincyma.gov/citylink or by following @CityofQuincy and @MassDOT on Twitter.